Beer dispensing apparatus



Feb. 21, 1939.

H. SLLlNGER BEER DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4, 1936 Patented Feb. 21, 19.39

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 4, 1936, Serial No. 99,427 In Austria. March 18, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a beer dispensing apparatus by means of which beer can be dispensed without pressure from barrels situated at a lower level than the faucet.

The apparatus is also suitable for dispensing wine and cider and has, in known manner, a packing ange against which the Vessel to be filled is pressed and hermetically closed by the suction action of the air pump. According to the invention the dispensing faucet of the apparatus is connected by a gearing with the air pump by which, when the apparatus is in use, the air is drawn out of the beer glass pressed against the packing surface and then, when the dispensing faucet is subsequently opened and during the filling of the glass, the excess carbon dioxide flowing into the glass passes into the pump whereupon, during the return movement of the gearing, the dispensing faucet is closed, and the air and excess carbon dioxide in the pump is returned by the pump to` the barrel through a filter.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by Way .of example in the accompanying drawing, in whichz- Fig. 1 shows the beer dispensing apparatus in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section on line II-lI of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the whole plant in side elevation.

Fig. 5 shows a vertical section showing the operating gear taken at right angles to the axes of the gear shafts.

A relatively large air pump 2 is mounted in one of the corners of the frame I which preferably consists of a cast iron casting of U-,shaped cross section. A vertical cylinder 3 is mounted in the frame opposite the air pump. In the lower part of frame I a dispensing faucet 4 and a toothed wheel gearing are arranged, the latter adapted to be actuated by a crank handle 5 on the side of frame I. A packing 8 of rubber or the like is inserted in a metal mounting 1 yon the underside of the bottom plate 6 of frame I. A short pipe length 9 projecting from the top side of the mounting 'I extends through the bottom plate 6 and is connected at its upper end to the dispensing faucet 4, the outflow passage of which does not, however, terminate in the air return pipe IIJ but is formed by a pipe II extending through this air return pipe I0, the mouth of this pipe II being flush with the lower end of the short pipe length 9 and slightly below the packing surface of rubber plate 8. A pipe I 2 extends from the lnflow passage of the dispensing faucet 4 and leads to the beer barrel I3 situated at a lower level (Fig. 4) than the apparatus. The beer barrel I3 is tapped in known manner by means of a pipe or tap I4 connected with the beer pipe I2 and with an air pipe I5. The air pipe I5 is connected at its upper end on a discharge aperture in the cylinder 3, in which aperture an air lter is mounted. The lter cylinder 3 is connected at its lower end with a pipe I6 which leads to a 10 pipe I8 through a rubber lipped valve Il of known construction. The pipe I8 is connected at one end with the cylinder of the air pump 2 and at the other end with the air return pipe I0. A rubber lipped valve I9 acting as suction valve is fitted in the pipe I8 between pipe I0 and mouth of pipe I6. The air pump 2 has a reciprocable piston 2li carrying a rack 2I meshing with a pinion 22 keyed on a shaft 23 which is journalled in an extension 24 of the pump 2 and carries a sprocket wheel 25 at its end projecting from frame I. A chain 26 connects the sprocket Wheel 25 with a second sprocket wheel 2l keyed on one end of a gear shaft 28. This gear shaft 28 is journalled in frame I and connected with the handle 5 by means of gear wheels 29 and 3l). A toothed segment 3l loosely mounted on shaft 28 can be coupled with this shaft by a claw clutch 33 adapted to be actuated by a hand lever 32. The segment 3i cooperates with a toothed wheel 34 keyed on the plug axle 35 of the dispensing faucet 4. The frame l is preferably covered by a sheet metal cap not shown in the drawing and having an inspection window for the controlling instrument which consists of a pressure gauge 36 connected with the beer pipe I2 and continually indicating the pressure which exists in the barrel.

The above described apparatus is fitted on the ice box or by means of a column on the dispensing counter. However, it can also be fitted on an independent wall 31 behind which is the barrel I3, as shown in Fig. 4. A bracket 38 is mounted on wall 31 below the apparatus. The beer pipe I2 has a shut off cock 39 above the tap I4.

The apparatus operates manner:-

The glass 40 to be filled with beer is pressed gently by hand against the packing plate 8, whereupon the crank handle 5 is turned in the direction of the arrow 4|. The toothed wheel gearing operates with a low transmission ratio so that no great force is required to turn the crank handle 5. The toothed wheel 29 is rotated by the toothed wheel 30 and rotates the shaft 28 with the 1n the following segment 3| and sprocket wheel 21. This movement is transmitted by the chain 26 to the sprocket wheel 25 and the pinion 22 which raises the rack 2| with the pump piston 20, so that the air in the beer glass is sucked into the pump cylinder through the air return pipe I0, valve I9 and pipe I8. Owing to the vacuum thus produced in the glass, this glass is pressed tightly against the packing plate 8 by the atmospheric pressure and hermetically sealed.

During the continued rotation of the crank handle 5 the toothed segment 3| comes into mesh with the toothed wheel 34, whereby the dispensing faucet 4 is opened. The beer'then 1flows-'out of the barrel with high pressure flow speed into the evacuated beer glass andthe yexcess carbon dioxide which has been forced'intothe glass with the beer flows off into the pump cylinder. As soon as the beer glass is full, it easily detaches from the packing plate 8. The crank h-andle Yl is then turned back quickly, thereby closing the dispensing faucet 4 and moving the pump piston 2U in downward direction. VDuring this movement the air and excess carbon dioxide drawn intothe pump cylindernout of the -beer glass is forcedthrough-thepipe I8, pressure valve g I'I and pipe I6 into theair lter cylinder 3. The air filter retains all Asubstances in suspension and any chemical impurities in the air drawn out of the beer glass. VThe iilter also lets pass all excess carbon dioxide which has flown with the beer into the glass and then into thepump cylinder, this carbon dioxide then owing back'into the barrel with the filtered air through the pipe I5.

The thickness ofthe froth layer on the beer can Athe upper end of said conduit, an operating element ffor said'dispensing faucet, an air suction pump having a reciprocating piston actuated by said operating element, an air return conduit between said pump and said tap, an air lter in said return conduit, a'transmission gear, means for connecting said transmission gear with said operating element, said transmission gear being constructed and arranged to open said faucet after'the pump piston has performed a suction stroke and to close said faucet when a pressure strkeis 'imparted to the piston, and means arranged to direct air forced yfrom said pump through said lter'into said return conduit.4

.A beer dispensing apparatus as specified in claim 1, Athe dispensing faucet having a plug axle and the gearing having a member cooperating with said axle, a clutch adapted to disconnect said member from said axle to allow the operation ofthe air pump whilst thefaucet remains closed for re-establishing normal pressure in the barrel.

HANS sLmNGER. 

